The Last House in the Row

by Lesley Parr, Richard Johnson (Illustrator)

Hayley discovers the importance of giving people a chance in this thought-provoking tale from critically acclaimed author Lesley Parr.

Hayley is furious that her beloved cat, Judy Garland, keeps sneaking off to the garden of the weird old lady across the street. Lillian, or Boo, as Hayley calls her, hasn’t left her house for years, not since the council came up with their plan to knock down the row of houses to make way for a new development.

Everyone in the street dismisses Lillian as an eccentric old woman, but when Hayley is forced to get to know her, an unlikely bond develops between them and Hayley learns the real reason behind Lillian’s reluctance to move.

But when a misunderstanding threatens their friendship, Hayley must use all of her ingenuity to repair it.

Genres: Middle Grade

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2025

About the author

Lesley Parr grew up in South Wales and now lives in England with her husband and their rescue cat, Angharad. She shares her time between writing stories, teaching at a primary school and tutoring adults. Apart from books, rugby union is her favourite thing in the world, especially if Wales is winning. Lesley graduated with distinction from Bath Spa University's MA in Writing for Young People. The Valley of Lost Secrets is her first novel.

Reviews

[Rosh (on a medical break) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A nice middle-grade historical fiction about an unlikely pair of foes-turned-friends. Realistic characters who aren’t too goody-goody, some heartwarming moments, good life lessons, and to top it all, a cat with ‘cattitude’. Recommended!

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Plot Preview:

1979. Wales. Eleven-year-old Hayley hates her neighbour Lillian because she is scary and because Hayley’s cat Judy Garland keeps sneaking into Lillian’s garden. Lillian, who Hayley secretly calls “Boo” never leaves her house, though the council wants to knock her house down for a new development. However, one day, Hayley is forced to interact with the old lady, and this creates a slow, somewhat unsure bond between them that strengthens as time passes. But a new incident leads to a misunderstanding. Will Hayley lose her new friend without a chance of explaining what had happened?
The story comes to us in Hayley first-person perspective.

Barrington Stoke is probably the only publisher whose name I always end up mentioning in my reviews. I have read seventeen books by this amazing publisher so far, and thus, I have a clear knowledge of what to expect from their books – a standard length of about 120 pages, interesting tween-aged characters who aren’t perfect, powerful themes that aren’t so common in middle-grade fiction, time settings that feel authentic irrespective of whether they are historical or contemporary, appealing B&W illustrations, and a dyslexia-friendly font. The individual plots cover various genres from realistic to fantastical, but their core focus is always on an important theme/topic that children can learn from, be it the dangers of the past or the concerns of the present. Also, their books are always in Hi-Lo format, meaning that the plot is aimed at tweens, but the writing level is slightly younger to make it accessible to a greater number of readers.

This latest novel contains most of these features. The only place where it goes slightly off-track is in the vocabulary level, which, at times, seems higher than the capacity of the target reading age. There are some Welsh words also, but the meanings of these is mentioned in the footnotes, so this isn't an issue.

As the lead character, Hayley has her heart in the right place, but she isn’t exactly likeable. She is impolite, she refers to her neighbour as a witch without any justification, and she doesn’t fulfil her responsibilities honestly. But she learns her lesson over the course of the story, which is most important in children’s fiction.

I appreciate how, whenever Hayley back-answers an adult, her mom sets her attitude straight. I find it annoying when fictional children are allowed to get away with rudeness. After all, kids who read the stories need to know that such behaviour isn't acceptable.

Hayley’s cat Judy Garland is, as her name suggests, a star. Black cats are always so cool!

Lillian is also a great character. I would have loved to know more about Lillian’s earlier life; there are many unanswered details in her backstory. This is partly because we see the proceedings only through Hayley’s first-person narration, so it would have been tough to fill in all of the gaps, but some of the major ones could definitely have been revealed better.

Of course, Hayley's attitude towards Lillian isn’t great initially. Her wild imagination often leads to unkind thoughts and rude remarks. But such behaviour is fairly representative of actual children's thoughts about those who seem aloof or scary. I hope little readers learn from Hayley not to judge based on appearance or rumours.

The age-gap friendship between Hayley and Lillian is written well, with Hayley’s changed attitude from uncertainty to comfort shown realistically. I love how their bond begins with something trivial and grows into so much more, thanks to an unexpected shared interest. I wish the end result of their efforts had also been showed in the plot.

The timeline of the story is too extended, sometimes jumping weeks or even months with nothing happening. For such a small story, it is too long a time period.

The B&W illustrations are lovely, suiting the plot in tone and expression.

All in all, I liked this book quite a lot. Through a simple story of friendship winning over misunderstandings and assumptions, children can learn some important life lessons. Though some of the writing choices could have been smoother, children might not notice any issue.

Recommended to middle-graders looking for a thought-provoking historical story with themes and lessons that are applicable even today.

4 stars.


My thanks to Barrington Stoke for providing the DRC of “The Last House in the Row” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lesley Parr has created a beautiful story that unites two different generations- the young and the elderly .

In a world where connections between age groups seems to be diminishing and the understanding between them is often founded upon a sense of fear and suspicion, this is a tale that unites and breaks down barriers

Hayley's cat Judy Garland keeps disappearing into the garden of an elderly neighbour nicknamed "Boo". Hayley becomes more frustrated and her attempts to lure the cat back result in an unlikely friendship. Hayley becomes friends with the lady- Lilian - who was once an aspiring actress. Lilian does not want to move from her house despite council requests and when Hayley learns an important piece of information about Lilian's past, she is compelled to step into action.

Told with warmth and humour, this is a pitch perfect story book for an individual reader - 7-9 year old or a lower key stage 2 class read. Barrington Stoke excel at pitch perfect texts for emerging independent readers

Richard Johnson's illustration further add to the sensitivity to the tale.

A truly lovely story that could open up discussions about connections between age groups- and dispel assumptions and stereotypes.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Last House in the Row is a beautifully told story filled with compassion.
Set in the 1970s we follow a young girl called Hayley who's unhappy with her cat (called Judy Garland) because she keeps disappearing into her neighbours garden (Boo) and Hayley believes this woman is a witch.
Boo isn't a witch, but she is a reclusive sort, and so when the pair strike up an unusual friendship about not only Judy Garland but other things too, a heartwarming story unfolds. I love the morals and lessons that this book teaches children about compassion, acceptance, understanding, prejudice, diversity, and even friendship.
I'd recommend this book for children 9+.

[eva ⚘ · Rating 4 out of 5]

very different from the novels that parr usually puts out but i really liked it regardless. i particularly appreciated the intertextuality of the text; the references to other books and movies like to kill a mockingbird, little women and the wizard of oz were very interesting 🤍

the ending was very powerful and it conveyed a very important message about embracing change and not being afraid of move forward 🥹

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story from Lesley. I can hear her reading it! 👍🏻

[Tracy Lander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read all of Lesley Parr's books - only Fallout (my choice on NG and absolutely loved) and The Valley Of Lost Secrets which was fabulous and was chosen as the class book by a child in our class. (also excellent). But I was very excited to see her name and Barrington Stoke together as I am a firm BS supporter and actively encourage the children to read their books at school.
I wasn't disappointed!

Hayley doesn't like that her beloved cat likes to stretch out and sunbathe in the garden of Lillian . Hayley calls her Boo because of a character called The Boo in a film who never left his house - Lillian also never leaves the house. The house is the last in a row of 15 three storey terraces - the other 14 have all been demolished, but Lillian refused to leave her home. The only person that goes inside her home is the Doctor.

Hayley is told off by her mum for trying to lure the cat called Judy Garland, from Lillian's garden with the good tinned salmon. She goes to her room - she can see the garden and Judy Garland! She picks up a script - she wants to win the part of Jo March in her youth club production of Little Women.

On the day of the vet visit Judy Garland has disappeared again.... Hayley knows where to find her. She bangs on teh door and calls through the letterbox, no answer... Hayley goes round and peers over the wall. Boo is stroking Judy Garland and talking to her...but she has a nice almost posh voice; not what Hayley expected. When she is seen, she jumps down tearing her jumper. But when mum finds out how, she says Hayley has to apologise to Lillian. She puts an apology note through the door, and runs... but falls, Lillian comes out of the house after her.

This begins a discovery and an unusual friendship. But when Lillian gets very ill Hayley thinks she could do something nice....something that Lillian gets angry about. Can Hayley make her happy again? Will she understand?
A beautiful story of family grief, friendship and not judging a person on their looks. Absolutely loved it and will definitely be trying to get this for school when it comes out. The illustrations by Richard Johnson are as beautiful as the words, that picture at the end with the two together and a sapling.
Thanks to Barrington Stoke for allowing me to read this in advance.

[Frompenandpage · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few things that bring me more joy than Lesley Parr’s writing, and it’s safe to say that The Last House in the Row is yet another triumph for her to add to her collection. I knew going into reading this that this book was going to pack a punch and contain all the heart you could ever want in a novel (because that’s what Lesley Parr does so incredibly) but I did not expect to find myself tearing up at 10am in the morning over… wait for it… an apple tree. THAT is the power of Parr’s writing.

Hayley and Lillian’s friendship is something truly special to me. Whilst she may have been very different circumstantially to Lillian, it reminded me of a friend I made in my Nan’s sheltered accommodation. Whilst this is a friendship that, sadly, is no longer possible, it’s the type of friendship that leaves a lasting impression on us all and I think Lesley Parr has captured that exquisitely. I hope this book encourages more younger people that older, lonely people are not to be feared, but instead somewhere they can find kinship, support, and encouragement as Hayley does from Lillian.

I also have to take a moment for the star of the show… Judy Garland. I’m the first person to say that animals can, oftentimes, recognise our emotions and feelings before we do, and I think Judy Garland serves that role perfectly within The Last House in the Row. From acknowledging Lillian’s loneliness to Hayley’s shortcomings to the potential friendship between them, I don’t think Judy Garland was missing a trick, and I LOVED that.

Lesley Parr’s writing never ceases to draw me in and guide me on an emotional rollercoaster and The Last House in the Row is no exception. As with all Barrington Stoke publications, this book is absolutely ideal for readers of various abilities and is dyslexia friendly. Having said that, there’s also something that I think adult readers could learn/remind ourselves of from this book too so I think there’s plenty of parents who could enjoy this as well. The Last House in the Row is published today and I can only encourage you to go purchase a copy and maybe grab an apple to eat alongside this joyous read.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lesley Parr is my favourite contemporary children’s writer. I have loved all 4 of her previous novels; in particular the sensitivity and insight she brings to her characters and the history she embeds in her books. Barrington Stoke are a rather wonderful publisher and I was excited to see how Lesley would adapt her writing to these editions.

Hayley is not too happy when her cat, Judy Garland, begins to stray into her neighbour’s garden. She has nicknamed this neighbour, ‘Boo”, and attributed her with rather negative characteristics! Boo’s house is the last house in the row. All the other houses have been demolished by the council but Boo - Lilian - has refused to move out. Hayley has never seen her leave the house and only the Doctor ever visits. Thanks to Judy Garland Lilian and Hayley become friends and Hayley realises that Lilian is not the person she perceived her to be.

I read this in one sitting. A slim book with a story that pulls on all the heartstrings. I was reminded of my childhood when I too had a child’s tendancy to see monsters amongst the neighbours and to let my imagination run ahead! The inter-generational friendship at the heart is beautifully observed and Lesley shows the incredible versatility of her writing, fitting perfectly into the Barrington Stoke style. Lesley’s stories are embedded in realism; she doesn’t look for easy answers and her characters are often experiencing problems that won’t be resolved easily. I loved how Lesley found an ending for this story which was grounded in possibility and not in fairy tale.

This is a gorgeous story which brought a few tears and a bit of a punch in the air. I think children will love this and parents will appreciate the gentle themes at the heart.

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous!

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, heart-warming story about friendship, community, local history and challenging your perceptions.

Eleven-year-old Hayley’s elderly neighbour is reclusive and mysterious. Hayley knows very little about the woman she nicknames ’Boo’ having seen the film To Kill a Mockingbird. All she knows is that Boo refused to leave her home no matter what the council offered her and now her house stands alone, like a monument to stubborn resistance, where the rest of her terrace has been demolished.
From her window, Hayley can see the lone house and wonders what on earth Boo gets up to in there. Knowing nothing makes Hayley imagine the worst.

When Hayley’s cat- Judy Garland- strays into ‘Boo’s’ garden, it brings Hayley and Boo together face-to-face for the first time. Is Boo the wicked witch Hayley has often envisaged? Who is this formidable force taking on the might of the council? Can that house really stay standing? And, where is that darn cat?

Barrington Stoke has got a winning formula with these short form, accessible reads. Basically, keep getting brilliant writers on board! Here, a simple tale is injected with packs of heart and humanity by Lesley Parr, who also enriches the story telling with cultural and literary references. Likewise, the addition of Welsh terms adds realism and individualises the setting. At the centre is the value of inter-generational friendship, about finding common ground, and learning empathy, which also throws light on the need to keep learning through talking, something that is eroding currently.

Loved it.

[Alyssia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven year-old Hayley is a head-strong aspiring actress who is determined to get the part of Jo March in a local production of Little Women. We meet Hayley as she is trying to coax her cat, Judy Garland, out of a neighbours garden. The neighbour in question is known to Hayley as 'Boo', a nod to the elusive character in To Kill A Mockingbird (Hayley is also reminiscent of Scout Finch). In this case 'Boo' is an older woman, Lillian, living alone in the last house on what used to be a row of terraces, recently demolished to make way for new social housing. Lillian refuses to give her house up and will not leave it for fear of losing it. This is how she has become known to Hayley as a recluse and possibly a witch. When Hayley discovers the truth about Lillian, she learns that sometimes we find kindred spirits in those we least expect.

This is a tender story about giving people a chance before making judgments about them. The relationship that blossoms between Hayley and Lillian is lovely and heart-warming. Parr explores the loneliness experienced by many older people living alone and this story may encourage young readers to check in on their elderly relatives or neighbours.

As a Barrington Stoke, this is an accessible book with short pacey chapters to keep readers engaged. It has a nice tidy conclusion and will appeal particularly to readers aged 9-12.

Thank you to Netgalley and Collins/Barrington Stoke for the digital proof.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this visit to the 1970s and the Welsh Valleys, Hayley is very much miffed that her beloved Judy Garland – a black cat – spends all its time in the back garden of 'Boo', the allegedly crabby, supposed-to-be witch, who lives in an end of terrace stump, now all the other homes in her row have been knocked down. Boo – Hayley can't bring herself to calling her by the right name, Lillian – is definitely the loner, but lo and behold when the two females are drawn together, they manage to form a surprising bond, and not just over the same cat…

This lesson in acceptance, prejudice and suchlike is a small marvel, and ultimately quite the tearjerker. It does seem to have an awkward timeline – some things that are supposed to take weeks don't play out in the same length as other things taking similar – which means one obvious, big and easy crowd-pleasing scene never gets to happen. Instead it goes for a quieter, more poised look at friendship across the ages, that proves Hayley to be much more mature than the bickering, snappy young madam we see at first. Written for those with a reading age of 8, but for the nine-and-up age bracket interest-wise, it's not one of the more adapted Barrington Stoke reads (those where those age brackets have a greater distance between them) but it needn't be thought of as for a special audience anyway – this will please anybody. Four and a half stars.

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Barrington Stoke and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Hayley thinks her housebound neighbour is a witch, her cat is always sneaking over there. Then one day she meets her and soon a friendship is formed and she learns the two of them have a lot in common. But a rift in their friendship occurs when Hayley says something she shouldn’t have.

What an absolutely beautiful story of friendship between two people of different ages. It was so stunningly written and the characters were wonderful, I honestly loved their deep connection and the strong bond they formed.

I really loved that Lillian was a former actress and had so much knowledge and wisdom to share with Hayley to help her get the part in the Little Women production. The two connected over so many things and I really loved that Lillian felt comfortable enough around Hayley to share with her about her life and her family.

It’s such a beautiful and full of heart story, I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, their lives and see their friendship blossoming, it may have faltered for a while but it rekindled and was so beautiful. The illustrations we got within it were also incredibly beautiful to look at, capturing Important parts of the story, I throughly enjoyed this book.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of the author, and this book does not disappoint. It is a heartwarming story about an unlikely friendship between a young girl and an old lady. It reminds me somewhat of the movie, "A Man Called Otto". I do wish that the story were a bit longer though as some parts seem to be a bit underdeveloped.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great to read a book that shows how a young person can have a relationship with an older person without them having to be related. This is such a beautiful story that covers family, grief, loss of a persons dreams, friendship and not judging a person before you get to know them.

And that beautiful illusion at the very end is worth everything.

[Novella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short and sweet Barrington Stoke title. I loved Lillian, I loved Hayley. Other adults annoyed me so much (don't tell kids something you'd obviously assume others will know then be mad they've told others when they didn't??)
I wish this was a longer novel!

[ThatBookGal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful little book, with a big heart and important message.

[Camilla Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really gorgeous short story about a girl and her elderly neighbour. Beautifully written.

[BookNerdette · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧 Audiobook
Listened on Everand app
Narrated by Bronwen Price

[K A T · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ |